Conveyer-belt.



Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

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MICHAEL G. GRANEY, OF HOOSICK FALLS, NEW YORK.

CONVEYER-BELT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed May 20, 1908. Serial No. 433,890.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL C. GRANEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hoosick Falls, in the county of Rensselaer and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful improvements in Conveyer-Belts, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in conveyer belts for grainharvesters and other machines and conveying apparatus generally, andparticularly to means for connecting the meeting ends of the belt andfor attaching the intermediate cross strips or slats thereto.

The primary object of the' invention is to provide a simple andeffective construction of means for connecting the ends of the beltwhich may be readily applied and permits of ready renewal or repairs ofthe parts thereof, which will automatically take up the slack in thebelt and operates without impairing the iiexibility of the ends of thebelt, and which is adapted to strengthen and relieve the ends of thebelt of the pulling strain ol the automatic take-up means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction ofmeans for attaching the intermediate cross bars or strips to the body ofthe belt in a convenient, firm and secure manner.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of themeeting ends of a conveyer belt constructed and connected in accordancewith my invention, the

covering fia-p upon one of the ends of the belt being broken away todisclose the oonnections. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the samewith the flap in operative position, Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective viewsof two of the coupling brackets. Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form ofbracket and stay, a portion of the latter appearing in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals 1 and 2 represent the meetingends of the conveyer belt, which may be formed of canvas, leather or anyother suitable flexible material. Upon the upper surface of the edge ofthe end 1 and upon the upper surface of the end 2 adjacent its extremityare disposed transverse slats or strips 3 and 4, and disposed injuxtaposition to these slats upon the said respective ends of the beltare other transverse slats or strips 5 and 6. The upper surface of thebelt is further provided with intermediate cross slats or strips 7,arranged at suitable intervals apart between the slats 5 and 6. Each ofthese strips 7 has a flat base to rest squarely against the surface ofthe belt and is fastened in position by a series o1 U-shaped staples orsecuring pins 8 extending through the belt from the inner surfacethereof and entering the strips. Arranged transversely of the innersurface of the belt in line with each strip 7 is a rod 9 engaged andheld by the bight portions of the staples and clamped by the sameagainst the belt, said rod acting as a stay to insure a firm clampingengagement of the strip 7 with the belt and to prevent the staples orfastenings from tearing through the belt under the strain or pressurefalling upon the strip. 1n practice, the rod 7 is preferably made 0fmetal of such a character as tobe indented by the staples when thelatter are driven into the strip, so as to form crimps in said rod bywhich the latter is held from longitudinal movement and a securerconnection between the parts afforded.

Fixed on the slat 3 on the belt end 1 is a series of clips or couplingbrackets 10, 11, 12 and 13, arranged at desired intervals apart and upon the slat 4 of the belt end 2 is fixed a corresponding series of clipsor coupling brackets 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a, corresponding respectivelyin construction to the first named brackets, but arranged in reverseorder thereto. Each clip or coupling bracket has a body portion 14corresponding in construction except as t0 the details hereinaftermentioned, which is in the form of a loop for the assa'ge Aof the strapupon which the braclliet is fitted, the relative upper and lower Wallsof said body portion being provided with registering openings 15 for thepassage of a rivet or equivalent fastening 16 to secure the same rigidlyto the slats, the rivet also passing through the belt and securing boththe slat and bracket thereto. Each bracket is also formed at its rearend to provide a pintle 16 to receive and engage the hooked outer end 17of a reinforcing strap 18, the straps connected with the bracket on eachend of the belt extending rearwardly and longitudinally in contact withthe outer surface of the belt and being clamped by the bar 5 or 6, asthe case may be, against the surface of the belt, each bar 5 or 6 andthe adjacent ends of the straps being rigidly fastened to the belt byrivets or equivalent fastenings 19. of resilient strips of metal, so asto allow ample iieXibility of the ends of the belt While connecting theend slats 3 and 4 with the adjacent slats 5 and 6 to stay and reinforcesaid slats 3 and 4 against the pulling strain of the take-u meanshereinafter described, thus obviating liability of the fasteningsconnecting said slats 3 and 4 and the brackets to the belt from pullingout under such strain and preventing `undue stretching yof the belt fromthe samecause. l

AThe brackets 11, 13, 11.a and 138L correspond in'construc'tion, eachhaving an arm2`0 hole-shaped slot '24 and an upturnedear orv free en dprovided with anopening25. The brackets 12 and 12a differ inconstruction from the other brackets to the extent that theirpivotedarms 26 areeach formedA at its outer end with an 'upturned ear orportion having an opening 27 and provided at one side with'an upturnedguide ear 28 having a transverse opening therein. i A

As before described, the two series of brackets upon the ends 1 and 2 ofthe `belt arearranged in reverse order, the brackets 10, 11, l2 and 13upon the end 1 extending in onedirection acrossithe belt along the bary3, while the corres ending brackets 10a, 113,12 .e and 13a upon te end2 extend in the opposite direction across lthe belt'alon the bar 4,which arrangement is employe( for the purpose of connecting the endsr ofthe belt in a prescribed manner through the use of intermediateconnecting cords Vor their equivalent 29 and 30. As clearly shown Fig.`1, one endof the cord 29 is suitably fastened in the opening 27 ofthebracket 12a, thence .eX- tended longitudinally between the belt endsand transversely through the guide passage in the arm of the bracketmember 11, the opening 28 in the bracket member 12 and the guide passagein the arm of the bracket 13, "and thence extended longitudinallyfto thebracket 'member 10a, said cord being passed upwardly through the keyholeslot 24 in the arm of said bracket 1-0EL and drawn into the `,contractedportion of said slot, thence passed through the opening 2.5 in said armand finally connected at its free endI a retainer 31 slidably engagingthat portion of the cord extending between ,the brackets These strapsmay be formed 13 and 10a to admit of adjustment in the length of thecordfor the purpose of spacing the ends of the belt a desired distanceapart. The ycord 30 on the other hand is fastened at one end in theopening 27 of the pivoted arm of bracket 12, thence extendedlongitudinally between the ends of the belt and passed through the.guide passage in the plvoted arm of bracket 11, through the opening 28in the pivoted arm of bracket 12.a and tbfcugb tbe 'guide fpeeeege ,inthe riveted cfm cf bracket 13a eed .thence extended beck 4over te .thebracket 10, its free eed being eggeged with seid bracket .in the sememeneer .in which Ythe .eed ef the ccrd 29 cngeged with the bracket,1D-f* and .finally ccneected et ite extremity with e retainer 32Sliebly engaging tbet pertce cf the kcern extending between the brackets133 and 1 to admit of adjustment in the length of said cere fcr ltbePurpcee Prercuely cXPleieed with reference te the lcord 29. By this.means the ends of the cords 4are respectively Permeecntlr attached ,to,the riveted erg-1S .cf the'ceuplnge ,12 eed 12a end fastened et their oposite 1ends in the `contracted kortions ,o' the slots ofthe arms l.ofthe brac7 ets 10 end 10% end Such corde .extended :through the guideportions of the other brackets, thus permitting the respective cords tobe adjusted ce te length te regulate the distance between the eedeef thebelt b Sim 1y :drewing the cords back into the Aenfarger portions of theslots 2 4 of the brackets 10 and 1Q and adjusting the ,sliding retainers31 and 32, the Pull uren the ende cf the belt 'frein the longitudinalstrain of the belt normtuy holding said cord in the retracted portions.0f the Slots 24 te maintain the cords in edjusted position. A ,coiledcontractile spring SSfeXtends longitudinally in line with Ithe centerofthe belt between the portions of the cercle. 29 enel .30 extendingtrenevercely between the respective brackets 11 and 12 and 11a and 1 2aand is rovidd at its ,end with guideSl carrying pu eye 34, tbrcugh whichguides end ereued which Pulleys the Seid rportions of the cords pass, bywhich the movable portions of the cords are main, tained nnder adetermined pull by the conf .traetile .energy cf the Spring, which thusyieldingly couples the ends of the belt and acts .to take up all slacktherein .as well as to permit temporary elongation of the belt Whe-11eXceSSj Strain felle thereon in the Opere ation thereoft It will beobserved that as the ccrde ere guided fer free movement be: tween ytheirende en easy operation thereof is ,insured in the contraction andexpansion of the ccuplng connections, and that the pivoted arms of thebrackets also permit proper flap 2a which is ol su'llicient length tocover the coupling connections and extend over upon the belt end l whensuch portion of the belt forms a part of the upperv stretch thereof,thus making the belt continuous. Adjacent the cross slat 4 this flap isproperly cut away to permit the coupling brackets carried by said slatto project under and through the flap.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that my inventionprovides a coupling connection between the ends oi` the belt whichinsures ample ilexibility ol' the belt at the points where the ends areconnected together, and also operates to maintain the belt taut at alltimes. The coupling connections are also readilydetachable to permit or"their removal 'for repairs or the substitution ol' new parts whenoccasion requires, and by the use ol' the straps 18 and their mode olattachment to the ends oi' the belt, such portions oi the belt arestrengthened and relieved ol' a large proportion ol' the pulling strainto avoid liability of loosening or disconnection olI the lastenings ol'the coupling brackets.

li' desired,the body portion o' each bracket may be provided withaT-shaped head 36 i'or connection of the adjacent end or" the strap 18therewith, as illustrated in Fig. .5, the end ol' the strap beingapertured to engage the head in an obvious manner to securely and yetdetachably Yl'asten it thereto. Also the straps may be made ol' springmetal strips,strips ol' rawhide or strips oi' any other suitableflexible material.

Having thus Yl'ully described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. A belt provided at its ends with coupling members having pivotedarms, the arms oi' the respective members being provided with retainingand guiding portions, cords engaging said retaining and guiding portionsot' the arms and extending bacl and iorth between the ends ol' the belt,each cord having a permanently retained end and a temporarily fastenedadjustable end, and a takeup spring engaging the guided portions oi thecords.

2. A belt provided at its ends with inner and outer cross slats,coupling members engaging the outer cross slats and provided withpivoted arms having guiding and retaining portions, ilexible stays oneach end of the belt, said stays being secured at their inner ends withthe inner cross slats to the belt and pivotally connected at their outerends to the coupling members, cords engaging the retaining and guidingportions of the arms and extending back and forth between the ends ofthe belt, and a take-up spring engaging the guided portions of thecords.

3. A belt provided at its ends with coupling members, each oi' saidmembers having an arm pivotally and detachably connected therewith, thearms of said members being provided with guiding and retaining means,cords engaging said guiding and retaining means and extending bach andforth between the ends ol the belt, each cord having a permanentlyretained end and a temporarily lastened adjustable end, and a take-upspring engaging the guided portions ci' the cords.

4. A belt provided at its ends with coupling members having pivotedarms, the arms oi' the respective members being provided with retainingand guiding portions, cords engaging said retaining and guide portionso'll the arms and extending baclr and forth between the ends ci' thebelt, and a take-up spring engaging the guided portions ol the cords.

5. A belt provided at its ends with cross slats, coupling membersengaging said slats, each having an arm pivotally and detachablyconnected therewith, the arms of said members being provided withguiding and retaining means, cords engaging said retaining and guidingmeans, and a take-up spring engaging the guided portions of the cords.

6, A belt provided at each end with coupling members, cords extendinglongitudinally and transversely between said members, each cord beingxed at one end to a coupling member upon one end of the belt andadjustably connected with another coupling member upon the same end oithe belt and in guided connection with coupling members on the oppositesides oi the belt, portions oi' the cords extending transversely of thebelt in the center line thereof, and a contractile spring connectingsuch portions of the cords.

ln testimony whereoll l atlix my signature in presence or' twowitnesses.

MCHAEL C. GRANEY.

W'itnesses l/VM. J. HYLAND, ARTHUR J. COLGAN.

